Package-carrying case for automobile tops



July 21, 1925.

J. L. KERR PACKAGE CARRYING CASE FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS Original Filed Sept. 26, 1 21 TIE; E

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Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED} STATES JAMES L. KERR, O]? SCOTTSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

PACKAGE-CARRYING CASE FOB, AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

Application filed September 26, 1921, Serial No. 503,214. Renewed December 29, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns L. KERR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scottsville, in the county of Allen and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Package-Carrying Cases for Automobile Tops, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to package carrying cases for automobile tops and comprises asubstantially flat flexible receptacle made from a strip of fabric folded double and supported by the transverse portions of the bows of the automobile top by means of which it is partitioned into a plurality of compartments having open edges on the opposite sides thereof, these edges being brought together in any convenient manner,

as by glove snaps or other closure fasteners, to close said receptacle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a carrying case of this type in which either the upper or lower portion of the strip, or both, are freely slidable relative to the bows by which they are supported so that the capacity of any one of the compartments may be enlarged to accommodate a particular packageby forcing the package betweenthe upper and lower strips of fabric 30 thus increasing the slackness of that part of the strip comprising said compartment by drawing upon the available slackness of the other compartments this being made possible bythe sliding connection between said strip of fabric and the bows.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a substantially flat package carrying case for automobile tops comprising an upper and lower strip of flexible material of suitable width folded double and joined at its ends so as to be substantially continuous, said'folded strip being held in place by the front and back bows of'the auto mobile top and being supported by the intermediate bows so as to be slidable relative thereto andbeing partitioned by said bows into compartments, said strip having means for initially adjusting its tightness and each compartmentbeing individually adjustable in capacity by drawing the strip through the bows to one side or the otherthereof so as to suitably vary the slackness of said compartment.

Another object of the invention is to providea package; carrying case of the, class with a fiat removable flexible envelope 7 adapted to be inserted through the opening on one side of the case and drawn into place by means inserted through the opposite opening wherebyto maintain said flexible envelope in flat condition.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will first be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, and thenmore specificall defined in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein s m lar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the top of an automobile showing my improved carrying case in place.

Figure 2 is a plan view from underneath showing the carrying case having the lower strip thereof mounted upon rods on the under side of the bows i Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the top of an automobile fitted with a modified form of carrying case in which both the upper and lower strips of fabric are supported on the upper surface of the intermediate bows.

Figure 4: is a plan view of a removable pocket adapted to be carried betweenthe upper and lower strips of the cases shown in Figures 1 or 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings the top of the automobile is shown. as 'being supported by bows designated by the nu-v merals 1, 2, 3and 4, beginning at the front. The upper parts of these bows extend transversely of theautomobile top, and determine the lines along which, said top is folded. Secured to the rear side of the front bow andto theforward side of the rear how are rods 5 and 6 which are olfset intermediate the ends thereof providing spaces between said bows and rods to allow for the insertion therebetween ofthe fabric strip 7 The length, of this strip is slightly greater than double the distance between the front and rear bows and it is folded upon itself, surrounding the rods 5 and 6 and the ends be ing brought together and sewed or otherwise secured making the strip substantially continuous. At one point in its length the strip is provided with buckles 10 and straps 11 by means of which a fold 12 may be taken in said strip for altering its length.

In the modification shown in Figure 1 the upper portion of the continuous strip 7 passes freely above the intermediate bows 2 and 3 between said bows and the top covering 13 of the automobile. The lower portion is supported from the under surface of said intermediate bows by passing over the offset portions of rods 14 and 8 which are secured to the bows 2 and 3 respectively and are similar in construction to the rods 5 and 6. The pocket thus formed by the folded strip 7 may be of any desirable width and the adjacent longitudinal edges of the upper and lower portions of said strip on both sides may be brought together and secured by any of the well known types of closure fasteners such as glove snaps or the like as shown in Figure 2.

The strip 7 is supported in slidable relation to the bows, and the intermediate bows as shown in Figure 1, lie between the upper and lower portions of said strip and constitute partitions dividing the pocket included within said strip into several compartments. The length of the strip 7 and consequently the tightness of the upper and lower walls of the compartments may be varied by the buckle 10 and strip 11 hereinbefore referred to. In addition to this adjustment the capacity of any one or more of the compartments may be increased at will to suit a particular package by forcing the package between the upper and lower walls of said compartment, increasing the slackness of said walls by drawing upon the available slackness existing in the walls of the other compartments. The sliding connection between the strip 7 and the bows permits the shift of material necessary for theaccomplishment of this result.

The package carrying case is particularly adaptable for the reception of articles carried in the flat, such as wearing apparel which it is desirable should not be wrinkled or rolled up. To this end any compartment or number of compartments may be provided with the removable envelope 15 shown in Figure 1 which comprises two similar layers of flexible fabric 16 and 17 normally separable along three edges thereof and closed by suitable fasteners. The article of apparel is placed within this envelope which after being closed is inserted in the longitudinal opening on one side of a compartm'ent of the carrying case and then pulled into place by inserting the hand through the opening in the opposite side side of th compartment. In this way there is no crowding of the envelope, consequently no wrinkling or displacement of the enclosed article. The sides of the compartment are then fastened together and the article will remain in place until removed for use.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the rods 5, (3, 8 and 15 which are shown secured to the bows in Figures 1 and 2 are dispensed with and both the upper and lower portions of the strip 7 are carried freely above the upper surface of the intermediate bows and around the outer sides of the front and backbows. In this form the principle of operation is the same, the only difference being that the intermediate bows are without the pocket formed by the folded strip and therefore do not form a part of the partition walls between the compartments. They do, however, function as partitioning means by supporting the lower portion of the strip 7 in contact with the upper portion thereof. If desired the strip may be tacked to the outer sides of the front and back bows where it surrounds the same, said strip being made slidable only with relation to the intermediate bows.

The disposition of the package carrying case is such that when empty it does not interfere with the folding of the top.

Although I have thus described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is evident that those skilled in the arts to which this relates may make various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A package carrying case for automobile tops comprising a continuous strip of flexible material folded double to form a pocket between its upper and lower portions and means slidably engaging said strip for supporting said pocket between the bows of an automobile top.

2. A package carrying case for automobile tops comprising a strip of flexible material folded to form a pocket between its upper and lower portions and means inserted through the ends of said pocket and slidably engaging the strip and secured to the bows of an automobile for supporting said carrying case.

3. In combination with an automobile top having outer bows and intermediate bows, apackage carrying case comprising a strip of flexible material folded double to form a flat pocket between its upper and lower port ions, means on said outer bows for supporting said pocket, said pocket being so supported by said intermediate bows as to be partitioned thereby into separate compartments.

l. In combination with an automobile top having front and back bows and intermediate bows, a package carrying case suspended between said front and back bows and slidably supported by the transverse portion of said intermediate bows.

5. In combination with an automobiie top having front and back bows and intermediate bows, a package carrying case therefor comprising a continuous strip of flexible material folded double to form a pocket be tween its upper and lower portions, mean-s passing through the ends of said pocket for securing said pocket carrying case to the front and back bows, said pocket being slidably supported by said intermediate bows.

6. In combination with an automobile top having front and back bows and intermediate bows, a package carrying case therefor, comprising a strip of flexible material folded double to form a pocket, means cooperating-with the ends of said pocket for supporting said pocket upon said front and back bows, said intermediate bows serving to partition said pocket into a plurality of compartments open longitudinally on both sides, a removable flexible envelope for oneof said compartments, said envelope being insertable in the longitudinal opening on one side of said compartment and drawable into position through the longitudinal opening on the opposite side.

7. In combination with an automobile top having front and back bows and intermediate bows, a package carrying case therefor comprising a continuous strip of flexible material folded to form a pocket between its upper and lower portions and being open longitudinally on both sides, means for securing the ends of said pocket to the front and back bows, said pocket being supported in sliding relation to said intermediate bows and partitioned thereby into a plurality of separate compartments, means for adjusting the length of said pocket and means for det-achably closing the longitudinal openings in the sides of said pocket.

8. In combination with an automobile top having front and back bows and intermediate bows, a rod secured to each of said bows and having a portion spaced therefrom, a package carrying case comprising a continuous strip of flexible material folded to form a pocket between its upper and lower portions and being open longitudinally on both sides, said strip passing around the rods secured to said front and back bows and the lower portion of said strip resting upon the rods secured to said intermediate bows, said strip being supported in sliding relation to said bows and partitioned thereby into a plurality of separate compartments, means for adjusting the length of said pocket and means for detachably closing the longitudinal openings in the sides of said pocket.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES L. KERR. Witnesses:

J. F. DENTON, EDITH (brown. 

